20 Years From Now...

"20 YEARS FROM NOW," Mark Twain said, “you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than the ones you did.”THIS online journal is dedicated to our next 20 years!

Saturday, 8 February 2014

Wanderlust

We're back home now, and while I'd like to say that's a good thing I have to admit I suffer from a severe case of wanderlust. Technically it's defined as "a strong longing for or impulse toward wandering", and over the years we've done our fair share.

While we were housesitting in Havelock The Hiker transferred some old slides to digital format, hence this trip down memory lane. Still, it comes at a much needed time. I've had my fill of winter. So, here's to warmer days and warmer nights, and many more exciting places to explore.

First stop: Rainy Lake, Ontario. The photo above was taken at a rental cottage back in the 1970s. What's wonderful about this pic is sometimes history does repeat itself. This past summer we stayed at another cottage in the Parry Sound area with the same couple, and surprise, surprise, none of us have aged one iota. ;-) Even more amazing is I tracked down the cottage.

Pic from Rainy Lake Cottages

The owners have renovated the interior, but basically the Sunset Cottage is pretty much the same. (Here's the link, Lionel.)

While the beach at Rainy Lake is quite small, some of the beaches we've visited stretch for miles. Beaches like Varadero and Panama City come to mind, but so too does Brazil's Copacabana.

The Hiker snapped this pic from the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain way back in 1978. I hope they've replaced the rickety old gondola that creaked and rocked and swung in the slightest breeze. As impressive as the view was way back then, that gondola trip was a white knuckle affair. All we needed was Bond's villain Jaws along for the ride and we'd have been all set. The pic below is from the movie, but even those cars are modern compared to the relics we used. I suppose the bright side is we lived to tell the tale.

Iguazu Falls is one of those unbelievable destinations you have to see with your own eyes to fully appreciate. Mother Nature can be powerful, beautiful and terrifying all at the same time.

The visit is a sensory one. The closer you get to the falls the louder the roar of the water until you can barely hear yourself think. Even on a sunny day the mist feels like rain and soaks you to the bone.

Also in Argentina is San Carlos de Bariloche (below). We traveled through this lake district during August (winter in the southern hemisphere) and I'll always remember the 'blue' snow. When I mentioned it the local guide was quite surprised to learn Canada's snow is white.

We also straddled the equator in Ecuador, and walked the ancient streets in Cusco, Peru. From there we took the train to Machu Picchu.

Close to Cusco is the valley of Sacsayhuaman. The locals stage Incan festivals for the tourists and it's wall-to-wall people, but this is how it looked way back when in the late 70s.

The Chilean artist's community of Valparaiso is one place I'd like to revisit, and not just for the art. Apparently Chile produces some great wine. Who knew?! ;-)

Zipping over to Romania in Eastern Europe, the pic below was taken from the top of Bran Castle, home of Vlad Dracul, also know as Vlad the Impaler and the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula.

One place on both of our must-return list is the UK. We were two of those fortunate souls who walked around and got up close and personal with the monoliths at Stonehenge.

And of course, who can forget Cornwall's Port Issac?

Now, if you'll excuse me I think I'll start planning our next trip. I have no idea where we're headed, but odds are it will be fun. Ah, wanderlust. It may be an addiction, but it's a GOOD one!